By Brandon Simmons
Appreciative of a Wild Week 2
The NFL always is due for a high energy game each weekend during the season, but Week 2 was just exceptional. There was fights, career highs, career lows turning into career highs and comebacks. While Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans was getting buck with the New Orleans Saints secondary, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovoiloa was putting up career high numbers against the Baltimore Ravens to put together an amazing comeback. This happened the same time as the New York Jets completed their comeback against the Cleveland Browns, led by QB Joe Flacco. However, it seems the most talked about comeback came from the Arizona Cardinals and QB Kyler Murray, who had a terrible first half but made for it with a surging 2nd half against the Las Vegas Raider. Honorable mention goes to the Dallas Cowboys who beat the Cincinnati Bengals with backup QB Cooper Rush. If there was a avote for which game really takes the cake, it would have to be the Cardinals win over Vegas. Tus’s performance was outstanding but Murray’s improbable attempt at scoring the TD and 2 point conversion was simply entertaining.
Did Murray’s Performance Fend off the Critics?
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray was spectacular in the 2nd half of Sunday’s win over the Raiders, but up until that point he has been far from it. In the first half, Murray threw for only 53 yards and an interception, suffering a 20-0 deficit at halftime. The 2nd half was a different story as the 3rd year signal caller threw for 223 and a touchdown, as well ran in for a touchdown and threw the game tying 2 point conversion. He also ran for a 2 point conversion earlier in the 4th quarter. It was probably the best quarter of his young season which has gotten off to a rocky start; but when you get paid a huge contract in the offseason, the people are going to expect you to pay up with tour play.
If Kyler Murray wants to keep the critics off him going forward, he is going to have to play like he did in the 2nd half, but more often in the first half of these games. To be honest, everybody has been waiting to his back ever since this offseason. He rubbed people the wrong way in how he approached his contract situation and there were many who argued he wasn’t worth that much money. It also didn’t help that the “film study clause” that was reportedly in his contract was leaked to the public and drew the ire of the entire sports Twitter. Murray is going to be under a microscope based on how he plays and ultimately how the Cardinals fair while he is under center, which is to be expected. However, he is also expected to play at the level he is played at, and when he doesn’t, the media will certainly let him know about it.
Is Tom Brady in over his Head?
One of the more interesting storylines this year, has been about Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady, and it’s halfway to do with football. Brady’s wife, Gisele Bundchen, spoke out in an interview with Elle magazine with concerns about her husband playing well into 40’s in a physically-demanding sport. People might’ve forgotten that Brady retired shortly after the Bucs had their season ended by the eventual Super Bowl champions, Los Angeles Rams. That stint ended in just a couple of months, but the announcement f his return was followed by the retirement of head coach Bruce Arians from coaching and moving to the front office, paving the way for Todd Bowles to take over as head coach. But things got real interesting in the preseason. Brady was missing from training camp for at least a week with no reports by the media on his whereabouts other than Bowles citing a personal matter. Then the interview came with Mrs. Brady, that was followed by the report that said Brady would be off on Wednesdays for the rest of the season.
With all that said, is Tom Brady in over his head for “coming back”? The NFL season is not an easy thing to prepare for and go through, even for guys that are younger and in more shape. So, imagine a 45-year-old – who’s played in more postseason games all time than some franchises – and how his body might be feeling, in addition to his mental health dealing with his wife’s concerns. This is the most vocal she has been about him playing this late in his career and they’re both pretty reserve about their private lives. However, if things are not right at home then that can affect the most mentally toughest athletes at times. Aside from that, there’s still the potential road blocks ahead for the season. The have games coming up against the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers, which are not easy matchups. Plus, he’s dealing with injuries in his receiving group with Julio Jones and Chris Godwin as well as having his number one receiver Mike Evans suspended for 1 game for an altercation in Sunday’s game against the Saints. That’s a lot to tolerate through an entire season and if anybody is made for it, it’s Brady. The thing that stands out is taking the Wednesdays off each week but he has played so much football and seen so much of the game that he could probably skip 2 weeks and still play like he never skipped a beat. Not sure
Shoutouts/Shutouts
Shout out to Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovoiloa. As mentioned earlier, he led a 28-3 4th quarter comeback racking up a career-high 469 yards and 6 touchdowns. He either made a lot of fantasy football owners happy or in disappointed.
Shut out to all 3 of those teams who suffered those comebacks. The Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens. They all held sizable leads and just blew it for themselves.
Shout out to Kansas City Chiefs rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson who returned a 99 yard pick 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The game was tied at 17 when the Chargers were knocking on the door of the goal line. That’s when Watson made the pick and took it all the way to the house on the other end.
Shut out to the Indianapolis Colts who got shut out by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars defense showed out with 3 interceptions and 5 sacks, including 2 by linebacker Josh Allen.
Teams are continuing to make some noise well into Week 3. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hosting the Green Bay Packers in a clash between Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Bucs QB Tom Brady. However, the game of the weekend might be the Miami Dolphins hosting the Buffalo Bills. Miami has been in impressive so far, including their monumental comeback from this past weekend. However, the Bills have been continued to remain along the top of people’s list for Super Bowl favorites. Bills QB Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs have become an unstoppable duo Miami’s QB Tua Tagovoiloa has an arsenal of receivers to choose that include Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. It should be a thrilling matchup on both sides but until then…I’ll holla.